The country's current account balance surplus showed an increase of 58% in the nine-month period from January to September 2014 compared to the same period last year.

The Greek economy is expected to shrink by -4.0% this year, from -6.4% in 2012 and to return to positive rates in 2014 (0.6%) rising to 2.9% in 2015, the European Commission said in its autumn forecasts report released in Brussels on Tuesday.